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That familiar, tribal roar echoing around Cheltenham a fortnight today will herald the first of 27 races at the Festival. None should occupy much more than eight minutes but the unofficial 28th will divert us all week, hopefully beyond.

Publicly, Paul Nicholls and Nicky Henderson maintain that they scarcely give the trainers’ championship a thought. Believe that if you will but their less guarded moments, their asides and body language, tell a very different tale. They care deeply about it, and we can all be thankful for that.